Novak Djokovic won't play between Wimbledon and US Open with Cincinnati Open withdrawal

Novak Djokovic will head to the US Open without contesting either of the ATP Masters 1000 events leading up to the final major of the year.

On Monday, the 24-time major winner withdrew from the Cincinnati Open with a "non-medical" reason after missing the National Bank Open in Toronto. Djokovic is a three-time former champion, most recently winning in 2023 over Carlos Alcaraz. He also missed the Mason, Ohio-based event last year following his Olympic gold medal run in Paris, with Monday marking the one-year anniversary of that crowning achievement.

The 38-year-old last competed at Wimbledon, where he reached his third Grand Slam semifinal of the year before being stopped by eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The world No. 1 also halted Djokovic in the final four of Roland Garros with a straight-set victory.

“I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes, yeah, the worse the condition gets,” he said.

“I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that. It is what it is, you know? It's one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it, I guess.”

Djokovic is scheduled to appear during Fan Week in New York as part of the US Open’s reimagined mixed doubles event. He and countrywoman Olga Danilovic were among six wild card teams named alongside the eight direct entries. The final two duos are yet to be revealed for the event running August 19-20 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

A year ago at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic was upset in the third round by Alexei Popyrin.